Nicole Kidman's Important Speech About Ageism Is Something Everyone Should Hear

In case you haven't noticed yet, women all over the world have had enough of the sexism, harassment, and gender bias that's prevalent in our societies.

Those who are lucky enough to have a platform to speak out, like the women in Hollywood, have been coming clean about the experiences they've had to endure throughout their careers.

Jessica ChastainNY Magazine

Some of the world's biggest female celebrities, including Meryl Streep, Oprah, Debra Messing, Reese Witherspoon, and Jessica Chastain, have opened up about receiving less pay than their male co-stars, not being properly recognized for their achievements, and being victims of sexual harassment and abuse.

Time's Up, a movement against sexual harassment originally founded in 2006, has since resurfaced to draw attention to these issues. Celebrities showed support for Time's Up by showing up to the Golden Globes Awards clad in black outfits, and by donating money to a legal defense fund to support lower income women seeking justice for harassment and assault in the workplace.

However, while everyone is caught up with Time's Up and the #MeToo movements, there is another important issue that is equally as important but has not been getting enough attention: ageism.

At the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG), which took place on January 21, actress Nicole Kidman shone a light on this topic, and used her acceptance speech to draw attention to the fact that the entertainment industry is finally recognizing and celebrating women over 40 by telling their stories.

Kidman couldn't help but tear up as she delivered a powerful speech that needed to be heard.

Kidman was awarded with the SAG Award for Best Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series for her role in Big Little Lies.

The 50-year-old actress poignantly portrays Celeste Wright, a middle-aged woman caught up in a cycle of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, on the HBO series. Kidman has won numerous awards for this role, and has taken each opportunity to highlight an important topic.

Metro

At the 2017 Emmy Awards, she used her voice to raise awareness for domestic abuse.

"It is complicated, insidious, and it exists far more than we allow ourselves to know," Kidman said. "It is filled with shame and secrecy. And by you acknowledging me with this award, it shines a light on it even more. So thank you, thank you, thank you."

At this year's SAG Awards, Kidman took her time on stage to address the issue of age in Hollywood.

She thanked her co-stars Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern for their "trailblazing performances" throughout their careers before mentioning "how wonderful it is that our careers today can go beyond 40 years old."

The Australian

She continued, "Because 20 years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives, so that's not the case now. We have proven and these actresses and so many more are proving that we are potent and powerful and viable."

“I just beg that the industry stays behind us because our stories are finally being told," Kidman added. "It's only the beginning and I'm so proud to be a part of a community that is instigating this change, but I implore the writers, directors, studios and financiers to put passion and money behind our stories. We’ve proven that we can continue to do this but only with the support of the industry and that money and passion."

Harper's Bazaar

Ageism is something that's not just prevalent in the entertainment industry, but in other workplaces and facets of life. An 84-year-old doctor's medical license was recently revoked because she did not know how to use a computer, not taking into account the fact that she's been successfully running her practice for decades using a manual system.

Union Leader/David Lane

Actress, Dame Helen Mirren, also recently opened up about ageing in today's society, and although she embraces the fact that she's 72-years-old, it infuriates her when people treat her differently because of it.

"If people treat me like the age I am, I get absolutely insulted, really cross," she said. "I hate when people give up their seat for me. No, no, no. I don't want your seat."

Both Kidman and Mirren have raised very interesting points with their words. Just because a person is older, it doesn't mean that they're incapable of achieving what a younger person can.

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